The Chinese Coast Guard on Sunday has driven away two Philippine ships which tried to approach the Second Thomas Shoal or the Ren’ai Reef, Chinese authorities reported.
The shoal is a strategic gateway to the Reed Bank, believed to be rich in oil and natural gas.
China said its ships were patrolling waters around the shoal when they spotted the Philippine boats, carrying construction materials and Philippine flags, allegedly attempting to start construction on the Ren'ai reef.
The boats left the area after being warned.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang defended its Coast Guard, saying it had no choice but to respond as the boats were infringing on China's territory sovereignty and “obviously” violated the Declaration on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea signed by China and countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Philippine authorities have yet to comment on the incident.
Last January, Chinese vessels have fired water cannons at fishermen near Scarborough Shoal to drive them away from the disputed territory. (c)yahoo
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